Bolt-locking apparatus, mounting method thereof and mounting jig

ABSTRACT

A bolt-locking apparatus includes a plurality of fitting members  2  and  3  which are relatively non-rotatably fitted to heads of a plurality of bolts  5 , and an engaging member  4  fitted to the plurality of fitting members  2  and  3  such that the engaging member  4  straddles the fitting members  2  and  3 . Outer peripheral surfaces  2   b  and  3   b  of the fitting members  2  and  3  are non-circular in shape. The engaging member  4  includes a plurality of engaging holes (non-circular engaging portions)  8   a  and  8   b  which correspond to the non-circular outer peripheral surfaces  2   b  and  3   b  of the plurality of fitting members  2  and  3.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bolt-locking apparatus after a memberto be fixed (to-be fixed member, hereinafter) is fixed using a pluralityof bolts, a mounting method for mounting the bolt-locking apparatus, anda mounting jig used in the mounting method.

It is well known that a bolt which is once appropriately fastened isloosened due to influence of vibration or the like, and variousbolt-locking apparatuses or locking members are proposed to preventthis.

For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 3615738 discloses abolt-locking member used when a member is mounted using a pair of bolts,this bolt-locking member including a plate-shaped body, a first fittingportion which is integrally provided on the body and which is relativelynon-rotatably fitted to a head of one of the bolts, and a second fittingportion which is integrally provided on the body and which is relativelynon-rotatably fitted to a head of the other bolt.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 4238453 discloses a fluid controlapparatus including a plurality of upper members (fluid control deviceshaving passage blocks) and a plurality of lower members (block joints).This fluid control apparatus is also called integration fluid controlapparatus, and fixes a passage block to the lower member using a bolt.In such an integration fluid control apparatus, it is necessary toprevent a bolt from loosening to maintain sealing performance. However,since there is no sufficient space around the bolt, a bolt-lockingapparatus which can be disposed in a narrow space and a mounting methodof the apparatus are desired.

The bolt-locking member of Japanese Patent Publication No. 3615738 has amerit that loosening can be prevented using one member, but there is aproblem that a structure of the member is complicated and it isdifficult to manufacture the member. There is also a problem that in astate where the first fitting portion is fitted to the one bolt, amounting operation for fitting the second fitting portion to the otherbolt is difficult. Therefore, it is difficult to apply the bolt-lockingmember of Japanese Patent Publication No. 3615738 to the fluid controlapparatus of Japanese Patent Publication No. 4238453.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a bolt-locking apparatus inwhich a structure of a bolt-locking member is simplified and a mountingoperation can easily be carried out, and to provide a mounting method ofthe bolt-locking apparatus and a mounting jig.

The bolt-locking apparatus is a bolt-locking apparatus after a to-befixed member is fixed using a plurality of bolts, including a pluralityof fitting members which are relatively non-rotatably fitted to heads ofthe plurality of bolts, and an engaging member which is mounted on theplurality of fitting members such that the engaging member straddles thefitting members, the engaging member being engaged with the fittingmembers.

The bolts used in the invention may be a hexagonal-head bolt, asquare-head bolt, a hexagonal socket-head bolt conforming to JIS, andalso may be a special shaped-head bolt having a non-circular head. Inthe case of the hexagonal socket-head bolt conforming to JIS, a straightknurled-head bolt is preferable.

A fitting member, for example, has a plate-shape, an inner peripheralsurface thereof has a shape corresponding to an outer peripheral shapeof a bolt (hexagonal shape in the case of a hexagonal-head bolt), and anouter peripheral surface of the fitting member has an appropriatenon-circular shape (e.g., hexagonal shape or square shape). In the caseof a straight knurled hexagonal socket-head bolt, an inner peripheralsurface of the fitting member is knurled. In the case of a fittingmember for a hexagonal socket-head bolt, a hexagonal column convexportion which is fitted into a hexagonal hole may be provided on acentral portion of a square plate-shaped member. An engaging member isformed into a plate-shape or a frame-shape, and an engaging portion isprovided on the engaging member. The engaging portion engages with atleast a portion of a non-circular outer peripheral surface of each offitting members to prevent the fitting members from moving. The engagingportion has a shape corresponding to the non-circular outer peripheralsurface of the fitting member (if the fitting member has a hexagonalshape, the engaging portion is also formed into hexagonal shape). Anouter shape of the engaging member is a square shape or a circular shapeand preferably, a shape corresponding to a shape of a portion on which abolt is mounted. It is preferable that the outer shape of the engagingmember is a shape which is prevented from rotating by a member on whicha bolt is mounted.

Here, the “non-circular shape” of the outer peripheral surface of thefitting member and each of the engaging portions of the engaging memberare shapes other than a perfect circular shape, and the non-circularshape means such a shape that when the engaging member is mounted on thefitting member and the fitting member and the engaging member are fittedto each other, the fitting member and the engaging member can notrelatively rotate. However, it is unnecessary that the fitting memberand the engaging member are relatively non-rotatably fitted to eachother in a first fitting state unlike tight fitting (press fitting), andit is only necessary that when they relatively rotate, a portion of anouter peripheral surface of the fitting member and a portion of theengaging portion of the engaging member engage with each other. This isbecause that even if the fitting member and the engaging member can notcompletely rotate in a state where they are fitted to each other, ifthey are slightly loosened and a rotation-preventing function isexerted, since the fitting member can not rotate thereafter, aloosening-preventing function is exerted. In short, it is only necessarythat the engaging member can prevent the fitting member from rotating(moving), and a shape of the engaging member is appropriately changed inaccordance with a shape of the fitting member.

In addition to the hexagonal shape and the square shape, thenon-circular outer peripheral surface of the fitting member and thenon-circular inner peripheral surface of the engaging portion of theengaging member may employ such a shape that one or more projections ornotches are provided on or in a circular outer peripheral surface. Eachof the fitting members may have such a shape that a through hole isprovided in a synthetic resin raw material, and the fitting member caneasily be manufactured.

The fitting member and a bolt head are relatively non-rotatably fittedto each other (play is substantially zero), rotation of the fittingmember is prevented, thereby preventing the bolt from rotating(loosening). Since the fitting members may be fitted to boltsindividually, it is possible to carry out the fitting operation easily.If the engaging member is made of synthetic resin, it can resilientlydeform. According to this, the engaging member can easily be fitted to aplurality of fitting members such that the engaging member straddles thefitting members.

The engaging member and the fitting member are relatively non-rotatablyfitted to each other, but there may be slight play. When there is play,the fitting member can rotate by an amount of the play correspondingly.According to this, the bolt can also rotate, but since the bolt is notloosened more than play, a loosening amount can be suppressed to apredetermined value or less (substantially zero). The play maysubstantially be zero of course, but by providing a certain level ofplay, the engaging member and the fitting member can be fitted to eachother more easily.

The plurality of fitting members usually have the same shapes, but theinvention is not limited to this. When all of the fitting members havethe same shapes, a first engaging portion and a second engaging portionmay have the same shapes, but the invention is not limited to this, andthe second engaging portion may be formed larger so that the secondengaging portion is provided with the play. It is preferable that thefirst engaging portion and the second engaging portion are partitionedfrom each other, but the partition may be eliminated and engagingportions may be formed into one engaging portion including all of thefitting members.

It is preferable that the engaging member includes a first opposed wallwhich is opposed to outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality offitting members from one side, a second opposed wall which is opposed tothe outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality of fitting members fromthe other side, and a connection wall which connects both the opposedwalls to each other. According to this, a shape of the engaging memberwhich is mounted such that the engaging member straddles the pluralityof fitting members can be simplified and it becomes easy to securestrength of the engaging member.

Each of the engaging portions of the engaging member has a non-circularinner peripheral surface which corresponds to the non-circular outerperipheral surface of each of the fitting members, and the engagingportion is an engaging hole provided in the connection wall in somecases.

The connection wall of the engaging member includes a projection whichis fitted in between adjacent fitting members and forms the engagingportion with the first opposed wall and the second opposed wall in somecases.

A fastening structure (fixing structure) to which the bolt-lockingapparatus of the invention is applied is not limited, but thebolt-locking apparatus is applied to a fixing structure of a passageblock of a fluid control apparatus. This passage block requires asealing portion. Therefore, when a bolt is loosened, sealing performanceis deteriorated and it is extremely important to prevent the bolt fromloosening.

When the invention is applied to the fixing structure of the passageblock of the fluid control apparatus, each of the bolts is a hexagonalsocket-head bolt whose head peripheral surface is straightly knurled,the head of each of the hexagonal socket-head bolts projects from ato-be fixed member (passage block) and penetrates the to-be fixedmember, an outer peripheral surface of each of the fitting members issquare in shape, an inner peripheral surface of the fitting member isknurled, the fitting member is fitted to the head of each of thehexagonal socket-head bolts which is exposed from the to-be fixedmember, the engaging member is fitted to the plurality of fittingmembers such that the engaging member straddles the fitting members, andthe engaging member is received by the to-be fixed member.

The passage block is a rectangular prism body, a fluid passage having anappropriate shape is formed and with this, a sealing portion isprovided. When the passage block is mounted, a plurality of bolts aredisposed to surround the sealing portion, the sealing performance issecured, and the passage block is mounted on a support member. Thepassage block is handled as one member in some cases. If the passageblock is integrally mounted on an actuator, the passage block is used asa passage forming portion of a valve in some cases.

The number of the plurality of bolts is two (a pair), but the number mayexceeds two. At that time, the plurality of bolts need not be arrangedstraightly, and the engaging member may be deformed in accordance withpositions of the bolts.

It is preferable that the bolt-locking apparatus uses an appropriatemounting jig (first mounting jig for mounting the fitting member, andsecond mounting jig for mounting the engaging member).

According to a mounting method of the bolt-locking apparatus of a firstinvention, a first mounting jig having a holding portion which holds theouter peripheral surface of the fitting member and a pushing portionwhich abuts against the fitting member and which can move with respectto the holding portion is used, the fitting member is mounted on thebolt in a state where the fitting member is held by the holding portionof the first mounting jig and then, the pushing portion of the firstmounting jig is moved, thereby detaching the fitting member from theholding portion of the first mounting jig.

According to the mounting method of the bolt-locking apparatus of thefirst invention, as a space when the fitting member is mounted, even ifthere are no sufficient spaces around the bolt (front, back, left andright sides) although there is a space above the bolt, it is possible toreliably fit the fitting member to the bolts.

According to a mounting method of the bolt-locking apparatus of a secondinvention, a screw hole is provided in the engaging member, a secondmounting jig having a male thread which is threadedly engaged with thescrew hole of the engaging member is used, the second mounting jig ispressed such that the second mounting jig straddles the plurality offitting members in a state where the engaging member is threadedlyengaged with the second mounting jig, thereby mounting the engagingmember on the plurality of fitting members.

According to the mounting method of the bolt-locking apparatus of thesecond invention, as a space when the fitting member is mounted, even ifthere are no sufficient spaces around the bolts and the fitting members(front, back, left and right sides) although there are spaces above thebolt and the fitting member, it is possible to reliably fit the engagingmember to the fitting member.

The first mounting jig of the invention includes a hollow shaft which isintegrally provided at its tip end with a holding portion for holdingthe outer peripheral surface of the fitting member, a grip provided on abase end of the hollow shaft, and an inner shaft that is integrallyprovided at its tip end with a pushing portion which abuts against thefitting member, the inner shaft being inserted into the hollow shaftsuch that the inner shaft can move in an axial direction, and a base endof the inner shaft projecting from the hollow shaft.

According to the first mounting jig of the invention, it is possible tosolve the problem that the fitting member can not easily be detachedfrom the first mounting jig after the fitting member is fitted to thebolt.

The second mounting jig of the first invention includes a shaft bodyprovided at its tip end with a male thread which is threadedly engagedwith a screw hole provided in the engaging member, and a reinforcingplate which abuts against the engaging member, wherein the shaft body isrelatively rotatably mounted on the reinforcing plate.

According to the second mounting jig of the first invention, a warp ofthe engaging member can be straightened by the reinforcing plate.Therefore, the fitting operation when the engaging member is mounted onthe plurality of fitting members can be carried out smoothly.

The second mounting jig of the second invention includes a shaft bodyhaving a reinforcing plate and an auxiliary shaft body which isdetachably mounted on the shaft body having the reinforcing plate,wherein the shaft body having the reinforcing plate includes a mainshaft body provided at its tip end with a male thread which isthreadedly engaged with a screw hole provided in one end of the engagingmember, and a reinforcing plate which abuts against the engaging member,the main shaft body is relatively rotatably mounted on the reinforcingplate, a through hole into which the main shaft body is inserted isprovided in one end of the reinforcing plate, and a screw hole isprovided in the other end of the reinforcing plate, and the auxiliaryshaft body is provided at its tip end with a male thread which isthreadedly engaged with the screw hole of the reinforcing plate.

According to the second mounting jig of the second invention, when aportion which hinders insertion of the second mounting jig of the firstinvention exists above the to-be fixed member, if the second mountingjig of the second invention is used, it is possible to mount theengaging member while avoiding interference.

The fluid control apparatus of the invention includes a fluid controldevice having passage blocks as a plurality of upper members, and blockjoints as a plurality of lower members, in which the passage blocks arefixed to the lower members using bolts, wherein the fluid controlapparatus includes any one of the bolt-locking apparatuses as abolt-locking apparatus which prevents the bolt from loosening.

In the fluid control apparatus including the fluid control device havingthe passage blocks as the plurality of upper members and the blockjoints as the plurality of lower members, it is necessary to preventloosening of bolts to maintain the sealing performance. However, sincethere are no sufficient spaces around the bolt, it is required that abolt-locking apparatus can be installed in a narrow space. If the fluidcontrol apparatus is provided with the bolt-locking apparatus, it ispossible to solve this problem.

Preferably, In a substrate processing apparatus including a processingcontainer in which a substrate to be processed is accommodated, and aprocessed gas supply portion which supplies processed gas into theprocessing container, the fluid control apparatus is suitably used as afluid control apparatus provided in the processed gas supply portion.

The bolt-locking apparatus of the invention includes the plurality offitting members which are relatively non-rotatably fitted to the headsof the plurality of bolts, and the engaging member which is mounted onthe plurality of fitting members such that the engaging member straddlesthe fitting members, the engaging member being engaged with the fittingmember. Therefore, the engaging member prevents the fitting members fromrotating in a state where the fitting members can not rotate relative tothe bolt and therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the bolt fromloosening.

The inner peripheral surface of the fitting member has a shapecorresponding to the outer peripheral surface shape of the bolt, theouter peripheral surface of the fitting member has an appropriatenon-circular shape, and the engaging member is provided with theengaging portions which correspond to the plurality of fitting members.Therefore, the fitting member can have a shape in which a plate-shapedraw material is provided with a through hole, and it is possible toeasily manufacture the fitting member. Since it is only necessary thatthe fitting members are individually fitted to the bolts, the fittingoperation is easy, and it is possible to easily fit the engaging memberto the fitting members such that the engaging member straddles thefitting members by resiliently deforming the engaging member.

According to the mounting method of the bolt-locking apparatus of theinvention, as a space when the fitting member and the engaging memberare mounted, even if there are no sufficient spaces around the bolt(front, back, left and right sides) although there are spaces above thebolt, it is possible to reliably fit the fitting member and the engagingmember to the bolt and the fitting member.

According to the mounting jig of the bolt-locking apparatus of theinvention, if the mounting jig is used, it is possible to smoothly carryout the mounting method of the bolt-locking apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of abolt-locking apparatus according to the present invention and showing afirst state when the bolt-locking apparatus is mounted;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the first embodiment of thebolt-locking apparatus of the invention and showing an intermediatestate when the apparatus is mounted;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the first embodiment of thebolt-locking apparatus of the invention and showing a state when theapparatus is mounted;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a state where the bolt-locking apparatus of theinvention is mounted;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of thebolt-locking apparatus of the invention and showing an intermediatestate when the apparatus is mounted;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the second embodiment of thebolt-locking apparatus of the invention and showing a state where theapparatus is mounted;

FIG. 7 shows an engaging member of the bolt-locking apparatus of theinvention, wherein FIG. 7( a) is a plan view and FIG. 7( b) is asectional view taken along the line b-b in FIG. 7( a);

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a first mounting jig of theinvention;

FIG. 9 is enlarged perspective views showing essential portions of thefirst mounting jig;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a secondmounting jig of the invention;

FIG. 11 is enlarged perspective views showing essential portions of thesecond mounting jig of the first embodiment;

FIG. 12 is perspective views showing a method for mounting thebolt-locking apparatus of the invention using the first mounting jig;

FIG. 13 is perspective views showing a method for mounting thebolt-locking apparatus of the invention using the second mounting jig ofthe first embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the secondmounting jig of the invention;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view showing a shaft body having areinforcing plate of the second mounting jig of the second embodiment;

FIG. 16 is enlarged perspective views showing essential portions of thesecond mounting jig of the second embodiment;

FIG. 17 is perspective views showing a method for mounting thebolt-locking apparatus of the invention using the second mounting jig ofthe second embodiment; and

FIG. 18 is a side view of an integration fluid control apparatus as oneexample of an apparatus for which the bolt-locking apparatus of theinvention is used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to thedrawings. In the following description, upward and downward directionsare based on FIG. 18, a rightward direction in FIG. 18 is a frontwarddirection, a leftward direction in FIG. 18 is a backward direction, afrontward direction in FIG. 18 is a leftward direction, and a backwarddirection in FIG. 18 is a rightward direction.

FIG. 18 shows an integration fluid control apparatus as one example ofan apparatus for which the bolt-locking apparatus of the invention isused. One line (41) of the fluid control apparatus includes a pluralityof upper members and a plurality of lower members. An on-off valve(manual) (44), a pressure regulator (45), a pressure sensor (46), areversed V-shaped passage block (47), an interrupter switch (48), a massflow controller (49), an on-off valve (automatic) (50), a reversedV-shaped passage block (51), and a filter (52) are disposed as the uppermembers. L-shaped passage block joints (54) having pipe joints (53), andV-shaped passage block joints (55) which bring adjacent upper membersinto communication with each other are disposed on both ends as thelower members. The various joint members (e.g., block joints (54) and(55)) as the lower members are placed on one thin and long auxiliarysubstrate (43), various fluid control devices (44), (45), (46), (47),(48), (49), (50), (51) and (52) as the upper members are mounted suchthat the fluid control devices straddle the lower members (block joints)(54) and (55), thereby forming the one line (41). A plurality of lineshaving configurations similar to the line (41) are disposed on a mainsubstrate (42) in parallel, and interrupter switches (48) of the lines(41) are connected to each other through passage connecting means (56),thereby forming the integration fluid control apparatus.

In the fluid control apparatus, passage blocks (49 a) and (49 b) aredisposed on both sides of the mass flow controller (49). The passageblocks (49 a) and (49 b) are fixed to the lower V-shaped passage blockjoints (55) through a pair of bolts (57). The on-off valve (manual)(44), the pressure regulator (45), the pressure sensor (46), thereversed V-shaped passage block (47), the on-off valve (automatic) (50),the reversed V-shaped passage block (51) and the filter (52) which arethe upper members respectively include passage blocks (44 a), (45 a),(46 a), (47 a), (50 a), (51 a) and (52 a). The passage blocks (44 a),(45 a), (46 a), (47 a), (50 a), (51 a) and (52 a) are fixed to the lowerblock joints (54) and (55) through one or two pairs of bolts (57).

Through holes into which the bolts (57) are inserted are provided in thepassage blocks (44 a), (45 a), (46 a), (47 a), (50 a), (51 a) and (52a). Heads of the bolts (57) project from upper surfaces of the passageblocks (44 a), (45 a), (46 a), (47 a), (50 a), (51 a) and (52 a), andtip ends of the bolts are threadedly engaged with screws provided in theblock joints (54) and (55).

A first embodiment of the bolt-locking apparatus (1) of the invention isapplied to a fixing structure of the passage blocks (44 a), (45 a), (46a) (47 a), (50 a), (51 a) and (52 a). As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, thebolt-locking apparatus (1) is suitable for locking the pair of bolts (5)which fix the passage block (to-be fixed member) (11) to a supportmember (12). The bolt-locking apparatus includes a pair of left andright fitting members (2) and (3) which are relatively non-rotatablyfitted to heads of the bolts (5), and an engaging member (4) which isfitted such that the engaging member (4) straddles the pair of fittingmembers (2) and (3).

The bolts (5) are commercial items (JIS items) having the same shapes,and are hexagonal socket-head bolts, and entire peripheral surfaces (5a) of the heads of the bolts are straightly knurled (a plurality ofconvex grooves and concave grooves extending in parallel to an axialdirection).

The fitting members (2) and (3) have plate-shaped bodies, and throughfitting holes (2 a) and (3 a) are formed in the plate-shaped bodies,outer peripheral surfaces (2 b) and (3 b) of the fitting members (2) and(3) are square in shape (one example of non-circular shape). Innerperipheral surfaces of the fitting holes (2 a) and (3 a) are knurled incorrespondence with the knurled shape of the head peripheral surface (5a) of the bolt (5) (a plurality of convex grooves and concave groovesextending in parallel to the axial direction). According to this, thefitting holes (2 a) and (3 a) of the fitting members (2) and (3) arefitted to the knurled shapes of the head peripheral surfaces (5 a) ofthe bolts (5).

The engaging member (4) includes a first opposed wall (6) which isopposed to the outer peripheral surfaces of the pair of left and rightfitting members (2) and (3) from their front sides (one sides), a secondopposed wall (7) which is opposed to the outer peripheral surfaces ofthe pair of fitting members (2) and (3) from their rear sides (othersides), and a connection wall (8) which connects both the opposed walls(6) and (7) with each other. Left (first) and right (second) engagingholes (8 a) and (8 b) which can respectively be fitted to the fittingmembers (2) and (3) are formed in the connection wall (8). An innerperipheral surface of the left engaging hole (8 a) is formed into asquare shape which corresponds to the square outer peripheral surface (2b) of the left fitting member (2), an inner peripheral surface of theright engaging hole (8 b) is formed into a square shape whichcorresponds to the square outer peripheral surface (3 b) of the rightfitting member (3), and they form the engaging holes (8 a) and (8 b) asengaging portions which engage with at least a portion of thenon-circular outer peripheral surfaces of the fitting members (2) and(3) to prevent the fitting members (2) and (3) from moving. The left andright engaging holes (8 a) and (8 b) are partitioned by a partition (8c). In a state where the engaging member (4) is fitted to the fittingmembers (2) and (3), an upper surface of the engaging member (4) isslightly higher than upper surfaces of the fitting members (2) and (3).

According to the bolt-locking apparatus (1), in a state where thefitting members (2) and (3) can not rotate relatively to the bolts (5),the engaging member (4) prevents the fitting members (2) and (3) fromrotating and therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the bolts (5)from loosening.

It is only necessary that the inner peripheral surfaces of the fittingmembers (2) and (3) have shapes corresponding to the outer peripheralsurfaces of the bolts (5), the outer peripheral surfaces thereof haveappropriate non-circular shapes, and the engaging member (4) is providedwith the engaging holes (8 a) and (8 b) which correspond to the fittingmembers (2) and (3). Hence, the fitting members (2), (3) and (4) can beformed from synthetic resin plate bodies having through holes, and theycan easily be manufactured.

Since the fitting members (2) and (3) can individually be fitted to thebolts (5), the fitting operation is easy. The engaging member (4) isformed into the synthetic resin plate body for example, it canresiliently be deformed, and the engaging member (4) can easily befitted to the fitting members (2) and (3).

In FIG. 4, plays between the fitting members (2) and (3) and theengaging holes (8 a) and (8 b) are substantially zero, but even if thereare slight play between the fitting members (2) and (3) and the engagingholes (8 a) and (8 b), an effect for preventing the fitting members (2)and (3) from rotating by the engaging member (4) is not substantiallydeteriorated and therefore, the effect for preventing the bolts (5) fromloosening is not deteriorated. Therefore, if plays are increased insize, it is possible to facilitate the fitting operation of the engagingmember (4) to the fitting members (2) and (3).

The engaging portions of the fitting members (2) and (3) and theengaging holes (8 a) and (8 b) are square holes (8 a) and (8 b), and allof four surfaces of the peripheral surfaces thereof abut against eachother (all of the four surfaces have functions as engaging surfaces),but since it is only necessary that at least one of the surfaces has thefunction as the engaging surface, the engaging portions are not limitedto the holes (8 a) and (8 b).

FIGS. 5 to 7 show an embodiment of another engaging member in which thefitting members (2) and (3) have the same shapes as those of theprevious embodiment.

In these drawings, an engaging member (14) includes a first opposed wall(16) which is opposed to outer peripheral surfaces of the pair of leftand right fitting members (2) and (3) from their front sides (onesides), a second opposed wall (17) which is opposed to outer peripheralsurfaces of the pair of fitting members (2) and (3) from their rearsides (other sides), and a connection wall (18) which connects both theopposed walls (16) and (17) with each other.

A lower surface of the connection wall (18) is received by uppersurfaces of the fitting members (2) and (3), and windows (18 b) throughwhich states of the bolts (5) are checked are provided in the connectionwall (18).

As shown in FIG. 7, a square columnar-shaped downward projection (18 a)which is fitted in between both the fitting members (2) and (3) isformed on an intermediate portion of the lower surface (inner surface)of the connection wall (18) which is not received by the upper surfacesof the fitting members (2) and (3). According to this, in thisembodiment, a first engaging portion (14 a) is formed by left portionsof both the opposed walls (16) and (17) and a left surface of a downwardprojection (18 a). The first engaging portion (14 a) engages with atleast a portion of a non-circular outer peripheral surface of the leftfitting member (2) to prevent the fitting member (2) from moving. Asecond engaging portion (14 b) is formed by right portions of both theopposed walls (16) and (17) and a right surface of the downwardprojection (18 a). The second engaging portion (14 b) engages with atleast a portion of a non-circular outer peripheral surface of the rightfitting member (3) to prevent the fitting member (3) from moving.

According to the engaging member (14) of this embodiment, it is easy tofit the fitting members (2) and (3) as compared with the engaging member(4) whose engaging portions are the square holes (8 a) and (8 b), andsince the connection wall (18) is formed thick, a strength thereof isenhanced and it is less prone to warp.

In the integration fluid control apparatus (FIG. 18) as one example forwhich the bolt-locking apparatus of the invention is used, when passageblocks (49 a) and (49 b) disposed on both sides of the mass flowcontroller (49) are fixed to a lower V-shaped passage block joint (55)through a pair of bolts (57) for example, since there is almost nooperation spaces in front, back, left and right sides of the passageblocks (49 a) and (49 b), it is necessary to mount the fitting members(2), (3), (4) and (14) by operation from above.

Spaces into which a hand can be inserted do not exist in front, back,left and right sides of the passage blocks (49 a) and (49 b). Therefore,when the fitting members (2), (3), (4) and (14) are mounted, it ispreferable to use two kinds of jigs including a first mounting jig (21)shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a second mounting jig (31) of the firstembodiment shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, or a second mounting jig (32) ofthe second embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 to 16.

To make it possible to use the second mounting jigs (31) and (32), screwholes (19) and (20) are provided in an intermediate portion and bothends of the engaging member (14) as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the first mounting jig (21) of the firstembodiment includes a hollow shaft (22) which is integrally provided atits tip end with a holding portion (23). The holding portion (23) holdsouter peripheral surfaces (2 b) and (3 b) of the fitting members (2) and(3). The first mounting jig (21) also includes a grip (24) integrallyprovided on a base end of the hollow shaft (22), and an inner shaft (25)which is integrally provided at its tip end with a pushing portion (26).The pushing portion (26) abuts against upper surfaces of the fittingmembers (2) and (3). The inner shaft (25) is inserted in the hollowshaft (22) such that the inner shaft (25) can move in the axialdirection. A base end of the inner shaft (25) projects from the hollowshaft (22).

As shown in FIG. 9 at a magnification, the holding portion (23) isformed into a substantially U-shape by front and rear walls (27) and(28) and a top wall (29). The holding portion (23) holds the fittingmember (2), (3) between the front and rear walls (27) and (28) byfriction force. The front wall (27) includes an opposed portion (27 a)which is opposed to the rear wall (28) to sandwich the outer peripheralsurface (2 b), (3 b) of the fitting member (2), (3), and a downwardprojection (27 b) which is connected to a lower portion of the opposedportion (27 a). An outer surface of the downward projection (27 b) isflush with the opposed portion (27 a). An inner surface of the downwardprojection (27 b) is concaved more than an inner surface of the opposedportion (27 a) so that the inner surface of the downward projection (27b) is guided to a front surface of the connection block (11) which is ato-be fixed member when the first mounting jig (21) which holds thefitting member (2), (3) is moved to a mounting position (position wherethe fitting member (2), (3) are mounted on the bolts (5)).

As shown in FIG. 9( b) at a magnification, the pushing portion (26)includes a plate-shaped square portion (26 a), and a plate-shapedcircular portion (26 b) provided on a lower surface of the squareportion (26 a). The circular portion (26 b) has such a size that thecircular portion (26 b) is loosely fitted into the inner peripheralsurface (2 a), (3 a) of the fitting member (2), (3). An outer peripheraledge of the square portion (26 a) has a shape extending along an outerperipheral edge of the fitting member (2), (3).

Since the pushing portion (26) and the inner shaft (25) are integrallyformed together, if the inner shaft (25) is moved with respect to thehollow shaft (22), the pushing portion (26) can move. The pushingportion (26) is moved to a position where the fitting member (2), (3) issandwiched between front and rear walls (27) and (28) of the holdingportion (23) and abuts against the top wall (29) of the holding portion(23) as shown in FIG. 9( a), and to a position where the pushing portion(26) is separated from the top wall (29) of the holding portion (23) tomove downward (toward an opening between front wall (27) and rear wall(28)), thereby separating the fitting member (2), (3) from the holdingportion (23) as shown in FIG. 9( b).

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the second mounting jig (31) includes ashaft body (32) and a reinforcing plate (33). The shaft body (32) isprovided at its tip end with a male thread (32 a) which is threadedlyengaged with a screw hole (19) provided in a central portion of theengaging member (14). The reinforcing plate (33) abuts against an uppersurface of the engaging member (14).

A grip (32 b) is integrally provided on an upper portion (base end) ofthe shaft body (32). A flange (32 c) which reinforces the male thread(32 a) is provided on a portion of a lower end (tip end) of the shaftbody (32) located higher than the male thread (32 a).

A concave portion (33 a) is provided in a central portion of a lowersurface of the reinforcing plate (33). The male thread (32 a) of theshaft body (32) projects from a bottom surface of the concave portion(33 a) of the reinforcing plate (33), and the shaft body (32) isrelatively rotatably mounted on the reinforcing plate (33) through anE-ring (34).

A tip end of the male thread (32 a) is located at a position where thetip end does not project more than a lower surface of the reinforcingplate (33) before the engaging member (14) is mounted and when themounting operation of the engaging member (14) is completed. To hold theengaging member (14) by the second mounting jig (31) (FIG. 11( b)), theengaging member (14) is opposed to the second mounting jig (31) as shownin FIG. 11( a), the upper surface of the engaging member (14) is abuttedagainst the lower surface of the reinforcing plate (33) and in thisstate, the shaft body (32) is rotated and the male thread (32 a) isthreadedly engaged with the screw hole (19) of the engaging member (14).

The fitting member (2) is mounted on the bolt (5) using the firstmounting jig (21) as shown in FIGS. 12( a) to (d).

The grip (24) of the first mounting jig (21) having the fitting member(2) sandwiched between the front and rear walls (27) and (28) of theholding portion (23) is held, the fitting member (2) is inserted into aspace above the connection block (11), and the fitting member (2) isabutted against the bolt (5) such that the downward projection (27 b) ofthe front wall (27) of the holding portion (23) is located along a frontsurface of the connection block (11) (FIG. 12( a)). The first mountingjig (21) is pushed downward while finely adjusting such that a head ofthe bolt (5) and the fitting member (2) are fitted to each other (FIG.12( b)). Next, by pushing the inner shaft (25) downward, the hollowshaft (22) is upwardly moved relatively (FIG. 12( c)). According tothis, the fitting member (2) is pushed by the pushing portion (26) andseparated from the holding portion (23) and mounted on the bolt (5).Then, the first mounting jig (21) is moved upward and this mountingoperation is completed (FIG. 12( d)).

The fitting member (3) is mounted on the right bolt (5) using the firstmounting jig (21) in the same manner.

The fitting member (2), (3) is mounted on the bolt (5) using the firstmounting jig (21) as described above. According to this, as a space whenthe fitting member (2), (3) is mounted, even if there are no sufficientspaces around the bolt (5) (front, back, left and right sides) althoughthere is a space above the bolt (5), it is possible to reliably fit thefitting member (2), (3) to the bolt (5). The fitting member (2), (3) ispushed by the pushing portion (26) and is separated from the holdingportion (23). According to this, it is possible to avoid a problem thatthe fitting member (2), (3) is not easily come out from the firstmounting jig (21) after the fitting member (2), (3) is fitted to thebolt (5).

The engaging member (14) is mounted on the fitting members (2) and (3)using the second mounting jig (31) as shown in FIG. 13.

The engaging member (14) is threadedly engaged with the second mountingjig (31), the grip (32 b) is held, the second mounting jig (31) isinserted into a space above the connection block (11) and is moveddownward (FIG. 13( a)). Then, the second mounting jig (31) is pusheddownward while finely adjusting such that the engaging member (14) andthe pair of fitting members (2) and (3) are fitted to each other (FIG.13( b)). Next, the shaft body (32) is rotated in a direction where thethread engagement is released to disengage the shaft body (32) (FIG. 13(c)). According to this, the second mounting jig (31) and the engagingmember (14) are separated from each other. Only the second mounting jig(31) is moved upward and this mounting operation is completed.

The engaging member (14) is mounted on the fitting members (2) and (3)using the second mounting jig (31) in the above-described manner.According to this, as a space when the engaging member (14) is mounted,even if there are no sufficient spaces around the bolt (5) and thefitting member (2) and (3) (front, back, left and right sides) althoughthere are spaces above the bolt (5) and the fitting member (2) and (3),it is possible to reliably fit the engaging member (14) to the fittingmembers (2) and (3). Since the reinforcing plate (33) is provided on thesecond mounting jig (31), if the reinforcing plate (33) is abuttedagainst the engaging member (14), a warp of the engaging member (14) canbe straightened, and the engaging member (14) can smoothly be fittedwhen the engaging member (14) is mounted on the pair of engaging members(2) and (3).

In FIG. 13, a portion which hinders insertion of the second mounting jig(31) does not exist in a space above the connection block (11), butconnectors for connecting a communication cable are provided on frontand rear surfaces of amass flow controller shown with a symbol (49) inFIG. 18, and the second mounting jig (31) shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 cannot be inserted in some cases.

A second mounting jig (36) in a second embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 to16 is effective when a portion which interferes with upper portions ofleft and right central portions of the connection block (11) exist. Thesecond mounting jig (36) includes a shaft body (37) having a reinforcingplate and an auxiliary shaft body (38) which is detachably mounted onthe shaft body (37) having the reinforcing plate.

The shaft body (37) having the reinforcing plate has a shape similar tothe second mounting jig (31) of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 10and 11. The shaft body (37) having the reinforcing plate includes a mainshaft body (39) which is provided at its tip end with a male thread (39a) and a reinforcing plate (40) which abuts against an upper surface ofthe engaging member (14), the male thread (39 a) being threadedlyengaged with a screw hole (20) provided in the engaging member (14).Here, the shaft body (37) having the reinforcing plate is different fromthe second mounting jig (31) in the first embodiment in that the mainshaft body (39) is mounted on an end of the reinforcing plate (40), aconcave portion (40 a) having a through hole into which the main shaftbody (39) is inserted is provided not on a central portion but on an endof the reinforcing plate (40), and a screw hole (40 b) is provided inthe other end of the reinforcing plate (40). The second mounting jig(31) in the first embodiment has a substantially T-shape as a whole, butthe shaft body (37) having the reinforcing plate has a substantiallyL-shape as a whole.

A male thread (38 a) which is threadedly engaged with the screw hole (40b) of the reinforcing plate (40) is provided on a tip end of theauxiliary shaft body (38).

The shaft body (37) having the reinforcing plate is the same as thesecond mounting jig (31) in the first embodiment except theabove-described differences. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a grip (39 b)is integrally provided on a base end (upper end) of the main shaft body(39). As shown in FIG. 16, a flange (39 c) which reinforces the mainshaft body (39) is provided on a portion of a tip end (lower end) of theshaft body (39) located higher than the male thread (39 a). The mainshaft body (39) is mounted on the reinforcing plate (40) through theE-ring (34) in a state where the male thread (39 a) projects from abottom surface of the concave portion (40 a) of the reinforcing plate(40) such that the main shaft body (39) can relatively rotate.

A tip end of the male thread (39 a) is located at a position where thetip end does not project more than a lower surface of the reinforcingplate (40) before the engaging member (14) is mounted and when themounting operation of the engaging member (14) is completed. To hold theengaging member (14) by the shaft body (37) having the reinforcing plate(FIG. 16( b)), the engaging member (14) is opposed to the shaft body(37) having the reinforcing plate as shown in FIG. 16( a), the uppersurface of the engaging member (14) is abutted against the lower surfaceof the reinforcing plate (40) and in this state, the main shaft body(39) is rotated and the male thread (39 a) is threadedly engaged withthe screw hole (20) of the engaging member (14).

The engaging member (14) is mounted on the fitting members (2) and (3)using the second mounting jig (36) of the second embodiment as shown inFIG. 17.

The engaging member (14) is threadedly engaged with the shaft body (37)having the reinforcing plate while holding the grip (39 b), the engagingmember (14) is inserted into a space above the connection block (11) andis moved downward (FIG. 17( a)). At that time, if the reinforcing plate(40) is horizontal, since the mass flow controller (49) interferes withthe connector (C) for connecting the communication cable of the massflow controller (49), the reinforcing plate (40) is inclined to avoidthe interference with the connector (C) and then, the reinforcing plate(40) is oriented horizontally. Next, the auxiliary shaft body (38) isthreadedly engaged with the reinforcing plate (40), thereby integrallyforming the auxiliary shaft body (38) on the shaft body (37) having thereinforcing plate (FIG. 17( b)). Then, the second mounting jig (36)including the shaft body (37) having the reinforcing plate and theauxiliary shaft body (38) is pushed downward while finely adjusting suchthat the engaging member (14) and the pair of fitting members (2) and(3) are fitted to each other. Thereafter, the auxiliary shaft body (38)is first detached from the shaft body (37) having the reinforcing plate(FIG. 17( c)) and then, the main shaft body (39) is rotated with respectto the reinforcing plate (40), and thread engagement between the mainshaft body (39) and the engaging member (14) is released (FIG. 17( d)).According to this, the shaft body (37) having the reinforcing plate andthe engaging member (14) are separated from each other, only the shaftbody (37) having the reinforcing plate is moved upward and this mountingoperation is completed.

The engaging member (14) is mounted on the fitting members (2) and (3)using the second mounting jig (36) of the second embodiment in theabove-described manner. According to this, even when a portion (C) whichhinders insertion of the second mounting jig (31) of the firstembodiment exists above the connection block (11), it is possible tomount the engaging member (14) while avoiding the interference.

A plurality of lines each having a configuration which is similar tothat of the line (41) shown in FIG. 18 are disposed on the mainsubstrate (42) in parallel, and interrupter switches (48) of the lines(41) are connected to each other through the passage connecting means(56), thereby forming the integration fluid control apparatus. Accordingto the integration fluid control apparatus, a plurality of kinds of gascan be controlled and supplied. In a substrate processing apparatusincluding a processing container in which a substrate to be processed isaccommodated, and a processed gas supply portion which suppliesprocessed gas into the processing container, the integration fluidcontrol apparatus is suitably used as a fluid control apparatus providedin the processed gas supply portion.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A bolt-locking apparatus after a to-befixed member is fixed using a plurality of bolts, comprising: aplurality of fitting members which are relatively non-rotatably fittedto heads of the plurality of bolts; and an engaging member which ismounted on the plurality of fitting members such that the engagingmember straddles the fitting members, the engaging member being engagedwith the fitting members, wherein each of the bolts is a hexagonalsocket-head bolt whose head peripheral surface is straightly knurled,the head of each of the hexagonal socket-head bolts projects from ato-be fixed member and penetrates the to-be fixed member, an outerperipheral surface of each of the fitting members is square in shape, aninner peripheral surface of the fitting member is knurled, the fittingmember is fitted to the head of each of the hexagonal socket-head boltswhich is exposed from the to-be fixed member, and the engaging memberfitted to the plurality of fitting members such that the engaging memberstraddles the fitting members is received by the to-be fixed member. 2.The bolt-locking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the engagingmember includes a first opposed wall which is opposed to outerperipheral surfaces of the plurality of fitting members from one side, asecond opposed wall which is parallel to the first opposed wall andopposed to the outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality of fittingmembers from the other side, and a connection wall which connects boththe opposed walls to each other.
 3. The bolt-locking apparatus accordingto claim 2, wherein each of the engaging portions of the engaging memberis an engaging hole which includes a non-circular inner peripheralsurface corresponding to the non-circular outer peripheral surface ofthe fitting member, and which is provided in the connection wall.
 4. Thebolt-locking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the connection wallof the engaging member includes a projection, the projection beingfitted in between adjacent fitting members, thereby forming the engagingportion together with the first opposed wall and the second opposedwall.
 5. The bolt-locking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theengaging member is rectangular plate-shaped, wherein outer peripheralsurfaces of the fitting members are square in shape, and innerperipheral surfaces of engaging holes of the engaging member are squarein shape.
 6. The bolt-locking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein alower surface of a connection wall of the engaging member is received byupper surfaces of the fitting members, and windows, through which statesof the bolts are checked, are provided in the connection wall.
 7. Thebolt-locking apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the number of theplurality of fitting members is a pair of left and right, wherein asquare columnar-shaped downward projection which is fitted in betweenboth the fitting members is formed on an intermediate portion of thelower surface of the connection wall which is not received by the uppersurfaces of the fitting members, and a first engaging portion is formedby left portions of both opposed walls of the engaging member and a leftsurface of a downward projection and the first engaging portion engageswith at least a portion of a non-circular outer peripheral surface ofthe left fitting member to prevent the fitting member from moving, and asecond engaging portion is formed by right portions of both the opposedwalls and a right surface of the downward projection and the secondengaging portion engages with at least a portion of a non-circular outerperipheral surface of the right fitting member to prevent the fittingmember from moving.